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Nissan Juke Nismo to debut at Le Mans

June 12, 2012

Nissan will being selling the hot Juke Nismo in Europe in January. Photo by Nissan

It's no Juke-R, but the more reasonable Nissan Juke Nismo will make its world debut at Le Mans this weekend. It seems only fitting, considering Nissan is providing power for a quarter of the field at the famous race. The Juke will get an enhanced version of the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine as well as some body and suspension work.

The Juke Nismo will wear a new aerodynamics kit with lower front and rear bumpers and wider wings and side skirts. Those pieces join a modified grille and tailgate spoiler to improve downforce at speed.

At the corners, the Nismo has unique 18-inch wheels with wider tires for better handling. The suspension will get stiffened springs, and the steering will be modified for more direct handling.

Nissan won't release specs on the car until closer to its in European launch in January, but the current turbo four makes 188 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. We expect at least a slight bump over that.

Inside the vehicle, Nismo added steering-wheel, pedal, gauge, gearshift and door trims that have been redesigned for a bit more flair. Sport seats with red stitching and suede trim hold drivers during cornering.

The Nismo Juke will be built in Sunderland, United Kingdom, and will be available for purchase in the United States and Japan at a later date, according to Nissan. Pricing hasn't been announced, but the jump from the Nissan 370Z Touring to the 370Z Nismo is only about $1,600.